Compare towns
Franklin vs Canton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Franklin | Canton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
24,748Highest |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$92,917±$15k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$288,500±$33k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,097 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.